CPA Exam Review News Blog

Let's face it. You have about a million things you "should be" doing. Pressure is raining down on you from every direction and it can feel a little bit overwhelming. What's hard is that the pressure isn't bad. You should be trying to make the world a better place, stand up for what's right, use less plastic, get 30 minutes of cardio in a day, adopt a dog, and on top of it all take time for yourself so you're not stressed.

There's an easy way to take control of this feeling and, maybe most importantly, be intentional and content with your decisions.

Will you make more money by taking a new position with higher pay at another company? Job swapping is more common than ever and the professional game of "bigger and better" is becoming the norm. While no one expects loyalty, and while loyalty doesn't mean the same stability as it once did, can sticking it out with a company benefit you more in the long run than chasing a higher check right now? The answer is not a clear yes or no, but you can take a look at a few factors to help you determine which answer is right for you.

Being a young accountant means having one of the widest fields of career potential in front of you. The profession is in high demand, but supply, especially of CPAs, is struggling to keep up. This favorable job market doesn't mean you should sit back and relax, but rather be ready and treat opportunity as if it were always around the corner. You should be professional to the standard of seasoned pro's, bring the energy of someone new to the industry, and able to meet every expectation as times and common practices have changed. This means your LinkedIn, handshake, Twitter, business card, and Instagram pages should all be kept to a professional standard as they will be scrutinized. The worst thing you can do is impress online and disappoint in person. Keeping everyone happy and making genuine connections can feel intimidating and taxing, but it is possible and worth it.

Busy season has ended which is supposed to make it feel like you have all the free time in the world now, right? Then why does it feel like your responsibilities are stacking up and growing out of control?

The simple answer might be because you are letting them.

In the same way athletes gain weight after their season is over, accountants risk falling behind their work after busy season. The day to day goes from forced productivity, to a more lackadaisy office culture. Since the amount you have to do drops so drastically, the urgency to do work decreases too. Since 24 hours is feeling like a lot more without the busy season pressure, you start putting off responsibilities. It doesn't seem like a big deal and before you know it, you're behind.

Everyone has heard and most of us regularly keep a "To Do" list. Their detailed tasks sit line by line on folded up sheets of paper in pockets and in the notes sections of our phones. We cross them off and in doing so, feel a sense of accomplishment. One thing we don't give ourselves credit for is the very thing which gets in the way of crossing more of those "To Do" items off.

There's a lot to learn in the process of becoming a CPA and getting your license depends on more than just sitting for the exam. There may even be some differences depending on what state you are in. Before we dig into the details, let's cover some of the basics.

Currently, Millennials are feeling the stress and increasing pressure of debt and it's impacting many areas of their lives. The AICPA released an article called "How to Take the Stress Out of Debt" in which they talk about the mental burden debt brings on top of the financial burden. They reported that nearly 75% of Millennials have debt and 43% have anxiety from their debt. This affects their sleep, work, and relationships in negative ways. But what can you do to help with this debt stress?

Say goodbye to the 2018 Tax Season and hello to studying for the CPA Exam!

First off, take a breather! You undoubtedly deserve a little rest, but make sure it doesn't last too long. Coming off busy season is a great time to transition into studying to get your CPA!

You are already being highly productive and maintaining a rigorous schedule, so you might as well keep it rolling. Obviously, you can cut out some of the habits which are not healthy. Re-institute time for exercise and friends, and get back some of the sleep you may have sacrificed -- but don't lose your stride. Those who competed in the Boston Marathon earlier this week are going to rest a little bit, but they aren't going to stop training! They already have their eyes on the next race and future goals.

Some think the little piece of paper hanging on their wall, the one with their alma mater's name, is the most important foot in the door to a successful career. Others believe their connections will take them to the places they want to go. Most are taught hard work, grit, intelligence, and putting in time is the key to success. While all those are important, they pale in comparison to the trait most successful people have - emotional intelligence.

Whether you're in the midst of busy season, studying for your fourth section of the CPA Exam, or both, you're going to find yourself exhausted. You'll need to figure out a way to get past the wall you will inevitably run into. Here are a few tips to be mindful of when you have that classic lack of energy and how to re-energize yourself!